The signs of Spring

Every proud lawn owners nemesis and yet we as photogs find them to be beautiful subjects.  I wanted to pick this bunch to take home with me in order to shot them in as many ways as I could come up with.  That would have meant climbing a fence, fighting the bugs, finding something to put them in and keep them from blowing away.  Well as you can see by this solitary shot I did not accomplish any of those objectives because climbing a fence wasn't happening and bugs and I soooo do not get along.  Instead I shot through the fence (fighting the wind) and left these little trouble makers where they could do no harm. I shot this in color but decided the black and white showed the motion with out appearing blurry.  I deepened the shadows to highlight the fuzzy white dandelions.
(f5.0 b/w)

Nostalgic

Today (4/21/12) I spent an awesome time wandering around Historic Ellicott City with my Mom.  The antique shops and old buildings were so fascinating. Considering the amount of flooding they suffered last year its amazing that they are up and running as if nothing ever happened. As I looked at this photo I thought about the fact that these buildings have survived much more for a very long time.  The town was established in 1772.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellicott_City,_Maryland  When I look at this gate I think of craftsmanship and the fact that people built things to withstand time. The facades haven't changed but the insides house stores specializing in "vintage" and antique items.  The old servicing the new that is selling the old....hmm, interesting.
(f 5.0 and an Orton-ish finish)

Sooo that's what all the hype is about...

So now that Instagram is available for Android I finally get to see what all the fuss is about.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The filters offer some pretty cool effects, cool instant posting.  Not exactly exciting but still interesting.  I took this shot while waiting at the crosswalk on my way to Starbucks one morning.  I just happened to look down and see these perfect little drops on the leaf.  Captured it using my cellphone and wished I'd had my cellphone lenses. Am I knocking Instagram?  Naaah, but for all the waiting its not that exciting.